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World Briefing: Europe

TURKEY: NEW GOVERNMENT TAKES OVER The new government, formed by the Islamic-based Justice and Development Party, took office vowing to pass measures intended to help Turkey's bid to join the European Union. Prime Minister Abdulla Gul's government also plans to introduce laws to modernize the economy, which is in its worst recession since World War II. Diplomats who have seen drafts of proposed laws said they would end torture by law enforcement agencies, lift restrictions on freedom of expression and open the way for retrying a group of Kurdish lawmakers imprisoned since 1994. (AP)

GREECE: GOVERNMENT MUST COMPENSATE EX-KING The European Court of Human Rights ruled that Greece must pay former King Constantine, left, $11.9 million for palaces and properties taken over by the government. "While we do not agree with the decision, we will respect it," Prime Minister Costas Simitis said. The ruling by the court, in Strasbourg, France, ended a long dispute between the country's former royal family and the government over 19,000 acres of land and two palaces the king left behind in 1967 when he fled the country after a military coup. Anthee Carassava (NYT)

NORTHERN IRELAND: FOUR CHARGED IN GUN PLOT Two women and two men were charged with providing cash to Irish Republican Army guerrillas to buy guns and ammunition smuggled from the United States in 1999. Four people have been convicted in Florida and four others jailed in the Irish Republic in connection with the gun-running operation. The four charged yesterday were ordered held until a hearing on Dec. 20. Warren Hoge (NYT)

BELGIUM: SENATE APPROVES SAME-SEX MARRIAGES The Senate approved a bill allowing gay and lesbian marriages, giving same-sex couples most of the rights heterosexual ones have. But the measure, which requires the approval of the lower house, would not allow gay couples to adopt children and a mother in a lesbian marriage would be considered a single parent. The Netherlands is the only country in Europe that currently allows gay and lesbian marriages. (Agence France-Presse)

SPAIN: LEFTISTS ACCUSED OF TERRORISM ARRESTED The police have detained seven people accused of belonging to a far-left group described as terrorist by the United States and the European Union. The First of October Anti-Fascist Resistance Group, known by the Spanish acronym Grapo, is blamed for small bomb attacks, usually against government buildings, and armed hold-ups, including an attack on an armored bank car that left two security guards dead. The police said three of those arrested had been jailed for membership in the group, adding that the operation seriously disrupted its logistical and propaganda branches. Emma Daly (NYT)

GERMANY: UNDERCOVER OPERATION The country's spy agency plans to sell underwear bearing its German eagle logo as part of its efforts to improve its image. A spokeswoman for the Foreign Intelligence Service said it was responding to public demand for agency accessories and would open a shop in Berlin next year to sell the merchandise. It will offer T-shirts, pens, calendars, rulers, stationary, jackets and underwear. Men's underwear will be emblazoned with terms like "Top Secret," "Classified" and "Confidential." (Reuters)